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Lisa Gauthier, running for the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in District 4, is focusing her campaign on her extensive public service experience and dedication to addressing affordable housing and homelessness as the November 2024 election nears.
Gauthier, currently the senior vice president of inclusion and belonging at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, has spent nearly 12 years on the city council, serving multiple terms as mayor and vice mayor.
This experience, she believes, sets her apart from her younger opponent, Antonio López.
During the March primary, Gauthier took an early lead but at the end of the night, never reached the 50% threshold needed to win the election outright. López trailed behind with roughly half as many votes as Gauthier received.
Gauthier said she was “pleasantly surprised” by her significant margin of victory in the primary, especially given the competitive nature of the race.
“I kept hearing that (with) over five people in the race, there’s no way that anyone is going to give a large margin,” Gauthier said. “But I was pleasantly surprised that the voters saw the qualifications and the difference in the experience, and it looked like they voted for that.”
Gauthier’s priorities remain focused on affordable housing, childcare, and homelessness, issues she has championed throughout her career. On the topic of homelessness, Gauthier acknowledged the growing crisis, particularly in Redwood City, where the homeless population has increased significantly.
“You can see in the different parts of the community the increase in numbers and homelessness. You know, when I travel through Redwood City and I take Veterans Boulevard from 101, and you come around that bend, that homeless encampment is growing significantly, and I don’t know where everybody’s coming from,” she said.
Gauthier said collaboration between city, county, and nonprofit organizations is essential to effectively addressing the crisis.
Gauthier also discussed the challenges faced by current initiatives, such as the criticism of the Navigation Center, a facility intended to provide services to the homeless.
In addition to her policy positions, Gauthier addressed recent campaign controversies, including an independent expenditure (IE) piece funded by “Big Oil.”
When asked about the criticism that the center is not fulfilling its intended purpose, Gauthier said, “I would want to understand where there are gaps in that process, and how can we make it easier, or be more helpful, or make sure that that process is a little bit more seamless?”
Gauthier claimed that she did not know who was behind the contributions.
“As a Dem, we took a pledge to not take money from Big Oil,” she said, adding that the oil companies in question distributed a mailer with her name on it. “I did not receive anything directly from Big Oil. I don’t know where that came from. I had nothing to do with it.”
Gauthier’s campaign strategy includes raising funds and engaging directly with voters through community outreach. She highlighted the diverse nature of District 4 in San Mateo County and noted the importance of representing all voices.
“When I’m walking in parts of Redwood City, it can be very different than other parts of Redwood City,” Gauthier said. “but knowing that everybody should have a seat at the table and an opportunity to be represened, I want to represent the district and make sure that voices are heard.”
Regarding her stance on law enforcement, Gauthier took a measured approach when discussing Proposition 36, which would increase sentences for particular drug and theft crimes.
“I don’t want to see more people incarcerated,” she said.
Gauthier said that while people need to be held accountable for their crimes, overcrowding jails isn’t the solution. She expressed concern about allowing offenses to go unchecked but was cautious about immediately resorting to felony charges, saying that the severity of such charges needs careful consideration.
“We cannot continue to have a society where people are are stealing and doing things and we aren’t doing anything,” she said. “There has to be consequences for actions. I don’t know that we go directly to a felony, and I don’t understand the level of a felony that it will be.”
As for her approach to accessibility to constituents, Gauthier said maintains an open-door policy and actively engages with the community to understand their concerns.
“…Because that’s how you learn about what’s going on when you hear from other residents and people in the community,” she said.
As she enters the final stretch of her campaign, Gauthier said she remains focused on her core priorities and the experience she brings to the role.
“At the end of the day, we want a safe community. We want people to survive and thrive,” Gauthier said. “We want people to feel comfortable living in San Mateo County,” she said.
Gauthier, a mother and grandmother, graduated from Thomas Edison State University in 2019 while serving two jobs, she said. She has lived in the community and the district for 47 years.
With endorsements from prominent figures like Board Supervisor Ray Mueller, former Congresswoman Jackie Speier, and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, as well as organizations like the San Mateo County Democratic Committee, Gauthier believes she has the support and experience needed to effectively represent District 4 on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
For more on Gauthier, go to her campaign website at lisagauthier.com.
Lisa Gauthier was on The Game with Mark Simon and Bob Marks, where they talk with her about the controversy at the Sheriff’s Office, housing and homelessness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvPUsEMtUmA